43Drills

Youth Soccer Drills/Games To Continue To Keep Youth Soccer Practice Fun

Here is a simple idea of putting aside the soccer ball, and playing basketball.  This helps show the team how players must leave crowded spaces to create openings for receiving passes.  The angles, passes, and creating space on the field or court is no different between the two sports basketball and soccer.  This is why so many people say that European basketball players are so much better passers is because of there early youth soccer experience and watching so much soccer on TV.  This all helps them visionally to understand the space and angles need to get open for any sport.

Just a quick video on how to slide tackle, a important skill in soccer aka football. Slide  tackling is  10%  skill and 90% determination.   One of  the most important aspects of the slide tackle is  timing the whole attack.  If you are just a second late  in most situations it’s a foul and could result in a yellow card.  If your to early most good soccer players will just dribble it right over or past you.  If you time it right and with determination you will win the ball.

youth soccer goalie drills

Steparounds
This is a basic youth soccer drill that has been called steparounds.  The idea of this youth soccer drill is to teach youth soccer players quick feet.

Each player has a ball and starts with the ball between his feet and knees are bent.  When the coach blows the whistle or says “go” each player moves one foot around the back of the ball and the other foot in front of the ball than back to the starting position.  The next movement would be the same switching the foot.  So the opposite foot should be going the other way this time (rather it be behind or in front of the ball). Then the first foot, etc.  (example is left, right, left, right).
To make this alittle more competitive you could have the first one to 20 wins.

Each month
soccerpracticebooks.com will feature a soccer drill from one of our soccer practice books. We will show you the training secrets behind the drill, how and why they improve your players and your team. This information is exclusive to this site. All our soccer drills in all our books have the same depth and training benefits behind them.

Today’s soccer drill is Motivational Drill #6 from our Kids (4-8)Book. Please click on the link below to open the drill, print it and enjoy finding out the training concepts behind it:

River Pirates

Skill Development

Kids with the ball will learn how to dribble. both in a 1v1 situation (when they meet a pirate) as well as in traffic. They will control the ball close to feet and make quick turns to avoid traffic. It is an excellent drill to encourage players dribbling to keep their heads up as much as possible so they can see obstacles and opportunities.

The pirates are the defenders and they will learn to take the ball away from players. At this age they are not likely going to slide tackle, but thy should learn to close in on an attacker and “steal” the ball.

The role reversal gives every player the opportunity to be an attacker and a defender.

Tactical Development

For attackers, the key tactical component is to recognize space and dribble to it to avoid getting caught. Also, trying different moves and ways to beat an opponent are encouraged.

Defenders have two tactical opportunities. First they need to choose a target, because players are coming at them from two directions. If the team is advanced or if there are some talented players, they may figure out that two defenders have a better chance of stealing a ball.

Mental & Social Development

This will be a good start to teach kids decision making in a fun game environment. Attackers need to decide where the openings are and which ones to exploit. Defenders need to be aware of traffic from two directions. There are more attackers than defenders, so defenders (pirates) need to decide which ball carrier offers the best opportunity for a “win”.

Communication can be encouraged, certainly amongst the pirates.

Trying to get each attacker to count their successful river crossings provides a simple means of motivation and introducing the concept of competition.

From a social development perspective, kids are working together as teams and will get a glimpse of the benefits of group work. With attackers outnumbering defenders 2:1, the defenders are clearly the underdog and may develop even more unity, while the attackers pretty much work on their own. This is supported by the fact that each attacker has his/her own ball while the defenders have none.

The fun part comes from setting the popular scenario of defending a “territory” while others need to conquer it.

Co-ordination

Agility is developed in this drill. Attackers need to make quick directional adjustments to avoid traffic and defenders. Defenders need to pivot 180 degrees to be able to see attackers from both sides and chose a target.

Everyone should be moving at all times so that during the 10 minute drill there will be sufficient physical effort.

Game Application

The basic 1v1 dribbling element is fostered which is a key component of attacking soccer. Defenders will learn to defend while being outnumbered and may begin to see the benefit of the “challenge & cover” concept.

Coaching Tips

Set the drill up as a fun game of “good guys” vs “bad guys”. Let the kids learn and discover on their own, let them have fun. There should be lots of vocal interaction and laughter. Don’t worry too much if the skills are being messed up.

Only intervene if the kids don’t get the basic idea of direction (attackers) or ball winning (defenders).

From decatursports.com

One of my favorite shooting/finishing drills was given to me by Franklin Lawson during a soccer camp he did in Anchorage several years ago. It is referred to as the “Mac Daddy of all shooting drills” shortened to Mac Daddy drill.

Setup:
Divide up the team into 2 even teams. Team one lines up about six yards outside the left goal post. Team 2 lines up about 6 yards outside the right goal post. Place a cone somewhere around the 18 yard mark roughly even with the left post. Coach has a supply of balls (around 5) at his feet.

Game:
On coaches signal the first player on team 1 makes a bending run from the end line around the cone on the 18. Also on the signal the first player on team 2 makes a run behind the goal, around the left post and enters the goal area to be the goalie. As the player from team 1 rounds the cone and starts toward goal the coach has played a ball and the player takes a 1st touch shot. As soon as the shot is taken the next player on each team starts their run so we end up with a new goalie and a new shooter taking a 1st touch shot.

Play for a period of time keeping track of shots scored. Game ends when time expires OR coach runs out of soccer balls to play to the shooter. This means that if you shank a shot or kick it over the goal you have to chase down your ball and get it back to the coach in a hurry. I also allow the keeper to punt the ball out if they make a save. The teams quickly get competitive and remember if someone sent their ball flying. While this sounds like a line drill after the first 20 seconds it becomes a conditioning exercise as everyone is chasing down misplayed balls and getting back in line. There needs to be some communication as a player may
need to send a long pass to get a ball back ready to play. This requires a teammate to get ready to receive the ball and get it to the coach.

At the end of time the 2 teams switch roles and team 2 gets to shoot while team one defends. I usually run it from both sides to simulate right side and left side runs. Hopefully encourage left foot and right foot shots. I can vary where I serve the balls from to simulate other option. I also vary the cone placement and distance for age of team.

This is the favorite end of practice for both my U11 girls team as well as my HS varsity team. It is easier to run than explain.

Kenneth Dodson
Chugiak Soccer Club
Eagle River, AK